Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted that louder engines are a priority for the next power unit regulations arriving in 2026.
The switch to the current V6 turbo-charged power units in 2014 saw a noticeable reduction in engine noise, in a move that was universally criticised by drivers and fans.
While there has been attempts to increase the volume of the V6 hybrid engines, the great emphasis of road car technology and energy recovery meant they have never been as loud as a normally-aspirated engine.
F1 has already signed off the next engine ruleset that will begin in 2026 and Domenicali revealed his intentions for the series to return to noisier power units.
“The intention is to make sure in the new regulation the engine [noise] itself will be higher because that’s part of our emotion,” Domenicali told Australian radio station 3AW.
“It is really what our fans want to hear and that’s the duty for us to commit to that.”
The new engine rules for 2026 will see F1 continue to use a V6 hybrid power unit but with an increased electrical deployment by removing the MGU-H.
There has been talk over F1 moving to an all-electric powertrain in the future, as used in Formula E, but Domenicali firmly denied this would be the case.
“No, it’s very clear, no,” he said. “We need to have a different sound. It’s music for my ears. It’s true that we had the 12 cylinders, it was a different frequency, very loud. And then 10, eight, six – it’s not [going] again down.
“It’s just the situation is different. Of course we need to be a hybrid, we’re going to hybrid for the future.”
Quieter F1 engines were championed by former chief executive Bernie Ecclestone in 2014, but senior figures have called for the championship to bring back louder engines in recent times.
“The noise is part of the emotion,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, as quoted by RaceFans. “It’s part of the DNA of the sport.
“It’s funny how you get used to things because the V6s with the energy recovery systems they currently have are much quieter than the old V10s and V12s or even the V8s. So now when we roll out a show car and you hear a V10 or a V8 engine, all the mechanics put their tools down to go and watch the car.”
